As China uses the Wuhan Coronavirus (COVID-19) distraction to expand its illegal naval presence in the South China Sea, the U.S. is countering with its own naval force — and now it is joined by the Australian Navy.
While U.S. super aircraft carriers such as the USS Theodore Roosevelt remain sidelined due to COVID-19, the U.S. Navy still has an ace up its sleeve. It has deployed a smaller Marine amphibious “lightening carrier” to the region. The USS America amphibious assault ship is the Navy’s newest class of big deck assault ship focused primarily on air-assault. It can also carry upwards of a dozen Marine Corps F-35 vertical takeoff stealth fighters.
America is now operating in the South China Sea along with the USS Bunker Hill, a guided-missile cruiser and the destroyer USS Barry. This task force has now been joined by Australia’s frigate HMAS Parramatta.
The U.S. and Australian ships are conducting exercises in the South China Sea near an area where a Chinese vessel is suspected to be exploring for oil, near waters also claimed by Vietnam and Malaysia.
According to Reuters, “The warships arrived this week close to where the Chinese government survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 has been operating, which is in turn near where a vessel operated by Malaysia’s Petronas state oil company is conducting exploratory drilling.” The Chinese vessel is escorted by a Chinese Coast Guard ship.
The Australian defense department explained that “During the passage exercises, the ships honed interoperability between Australian and US navies, including replenishment-at-sea, aviation operations, maritime manoeuvres and communications drills,” in a statement to Reuters.
While perfectly timed, the Parramatta’s deployment would likely have been arranged at least a year ago, and not designed for current heightened conditions.
According to Peter Jennings, a former Australian defense official with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute was quoted in the New York Times (NYT) as saying, at that time, “it probably didn’t know it was sailing into a heightened military environment,” adding, “It’s been made that way really since March, with the greater pattern of offensive operations that China is engaging in all the way from Japan to the South China Sea.”
China claims most of the energy-rich South China Sea, within a U-shaped “nine-dash line” on its maps, which is not recognized by its neighbors, or international law. To enforce its illegal claims China is becoming increasingly aggressive and provocative.
Earlier this month, the Vietnamese accused a Chinese patrol ship of ramming and sinking a Vietnamese fishing boat. Last month, China opened two new research stations on artificial reefs it has built on maritime turf claimed by the Philippines and others. The reefs are also equipped with defense silos and military-grade runways.
Over the weekend, the Chinese government announced that it had formally established two new districts in the South China Sea that include dozens of contested islets and reefs. Many are submerged bits of atoll that do not confer territorial rights, according to international law.
Alexander Vuving at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu said in the NYT, “The Chinese want to create a new normal in the South China Sea, where they are in charge, and to do that they’ve become more and more aggressive.”
In order to counter this growing Chinese naval threat, and maintain its influence in the region, the U.S. and its major Pacific allies like Australia and Japan, need to boldly increase their naval presence in the South China Sea. The U.S. should not be seen only deploying briefly at hotspots and then leaving, while its smaller allies in China’s line of fire face the Chinese dragon alone on a daily basis.
The U.S. needs to show it is in the Western Pacific to stay.
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Haha….again….the rule is…”blow’em out of the water” to keep with Pres Trump’s releasing his Gulf commanders to do the job if they have to. No more Obama style rules of engagement.
Not our way! But a defensive posture w strong rules of engagement should suffice
Is China willing to risk war with America and the world for its claims? That would also mean shutting down all trade with the world. No, the arrogant little Chinese leaders have bantee Rooster attitudes and believe they can win both ways. They don’t believe we will shut down trade as it means too much to our greedy businessmen. They don’t know Trump very well.
Communists only respect force, show any sign of weakness and they will take advantage of it.
Time to kick some Chinese ass.
Trump is not to be messed with!
Thanks Australia for being a great ally. Iran, China and other trouble makers, Don’t try to take advantage of President Trump, you will lose!! You aren’t dealing with Obama now.
Ann Also don’t forget obama is a half-cast muslim who wanted to bring America to its knees , thank God Trump won . Trump 2020.
Trump and Patriotic Americans do not bow or bend over for the Democrats or their socialist/communist buddies. The previous administrations were weak, corrupt and taking us down the path toward socialism.
We will find out in Nov. if American’s are still strong and value their civil liberties/rights.
It is comforting to know that our great ,powerful military is no longer lead by a coward with no guts. Go ahead China .Push President Trump .see what happens.
I think they are testing American resolve thinking they weaken us the only one weakening us is our democratic politicians by selling out america behind our backs all these sympathizing corrupt crooks need to be put in jail this is why they are putting billions of dollars against Trump in this election because they dont want to be exposed for their crimes in the mean time their collusion with China will be exposed and they need to be put to death for treason as if not as our fore fathers noted some body will let them out It has to end JUSTICE MUST PREVAIL nobody should be above the law NOBODY
Charles Very well said .
It might sound harsh, but Beijing needs to be Nuked pronto. If that is not done there are going to be a whole lot of death down the road.
We are at war with China,that would be an option,since they attacked us first!!
If we nuke Beijing, they will retaliate and do the same, regardless of the fact that the MANUFACTURED VIRUS came from China. Nuclear war is not a good outcome for humanity.
Better idea – THE WORLD must all stop buying Chinese goods and food from there and end their mfg in China. THE WORLD has paid a steep price for the COVID VIRUS that China created and THE WORLD must work together to pull the economic rug out from under their feet. Then their ability to fund their military and anything else will come to a screeching halt.
Trump’s recent trade agreement has already garnered actions by many U.S. companies now relocating to VietNam and Thailand. Next will be relocation to India. China is already hurting from the Trump trade agreement – this virus has only made things worse for China.
Just think how much money Hillary could have made off china in is deal if she had been Elected. Kinda like Bill did when he was President and sold them all our tech knowledge he could get away with. I know this because I was working for Lockheed Martin at the time and a lot of our supervisors were ex navy and Army Officers and ship commanders.
Ben Watching Agree with you , most previous Presidents would sell America for their own profit.
This is what bullies do…like China, who wants to illegally dominate the Asian landmass. The only way to counter bullies is to stand up to them; and the West is starting to realize this and mobilize together with other allies (like Australia) and (hopefully) Japan, to drive the “bully” out of the area. That’s how it will and must be done. Otherwise, Asia will eventually be lost to the Chinese/Communist, atheistic, amoral CCP; that believes it is entitled to rule all other nations everywhere; especially western democracies.
They are making a big mistake. But most commies do. Let the games begin.
If 100 F35s were after me, I would – take my dog for a walk/bake a cake/weed my garden/wash my car/spend 3 hours doing what I always do – without worry. F22s? A different story. Bend over and KMAGB.
No worries… We ‘always’ have our subs in any given area…and the last thing I would want to do, is engage an attack sub..with the tech and armaments they carry, in todays world of unrest. For the record…the Japanese and Indian Govts’. also, see the danger RED China is bringing to the table and have been actively, building up their own Navies, and conducting defense exercises as well…just in case, due to RED China’s aggressive behavior, in the region.
A United Judeo-Christian Civilization shall Inevitably prove Victorious against all who make the mistake of opposing the Way, the Truth, & the Life, to Whom All Authority in Heaven and Earth is rendered, Our Dear Lord and King Jesus Christ, The Lamb Of God…!!!! Let It Be So…!!!!
I don’t think the Chinese are going to get to excited about one Australian frigate. Our allies have to send a lot more firepower than that to make any indent. And I’m afraid that our allies are few and far between. I think we’re basically on our own out here.
Does Pres. Trump know that Fauci & Birx are deeply in bed with Gates et al in developing C.virus? I think they are hypocrites & traitors. Get rid of them.. They’ve made many $thousands off their duplicity!
I want to see USA take over ALL Chinese Properties w/in..Deport All Chinese & Suspend Diplomatic-Trade w/USA Allies Help..Need NOT be talking about China N. KOREA IRAN and RUssia anymore.Am tired reading Comments..USA should ACT NOW..Lets go to WAR if NEEDED…
We blew it, 60, 55, 30, n 20 years ago. Nukes R terrible. But oppression n surrender is worse…n U know our enemies will use m. They use women n children. Walk softly n carry a Big Defense. Or stick. Call it what U want!!